Live fish container



Nov. 28, 1967 J. J. FISCH 3,355,056

LIVE FISH CONTAINER Filed April 20, 1965 Jacob J. F 130/) INVENTOR United States Patent 3,355,056 LIVE FISH CONTAINER Jacob lohn Fisch, Miami Beach, Fla., assignor to Hobbyfish Incorporated, Miami, Fla., a corporation of Florida Filed Apr. 20, 1965, Ser. No. 449,503 1 Claim, (Cl. 220-42) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A container for live fish or the like, including a tubular body having a thickened reinforcing head portion surrounding the same and an upper margin portion extending between the bead and the top edge of the body. A cover having an outer peripheral skirt and an inwardly spaced continuous depending rib fits onto the container over the upper margin portion. The lower end of the skirt abuts against the top of the reinforcing bead and a continuous sealing engagement is provided between the skirt, the rib and the upper margin portion.

The instant invention generally relates to containers, and is more specifically concerned with the provision of a container uniquely adapted to contain live fish and the like in a life preserving fluid for purposes of shipping and storage.

While it is appreciated that various types of containers for aquatic life are known, such containers are generally of a cumbersome nature, diflicult to handle, fill and properly seal. Accordingly, it is a primary object of the instant invention to provide a container which obviates the undesirable features normally associated with such containers.

In conjunction with the above object, it is an object of the invention to provide a substantially rigid container which can be easily handled, both through the elongated rectangular shape thereof and through the provision of a finger gripping overhang peripherally about the top thereof.

Likewise, it is a significant object of the present invention to provide a container wherein the cross-sectional area thereof increases gradually from the bottom to the top with the entire top being open for allowing free access to the interior of the container, this open top being selectively sealed through a removable one-piece cover.

Another object of this invention is to incorporate an integral reinforcing bead or rib about the open upper end of the container.

Also, it is an important object of the present invention to provide for a peripheral joining and sealing of the cover to the container in a manner which reinforces and stabilizes both the edge itself and the top of the container while forming a smooth continuation of the portion of the container immediately below the cover so as to eliminate any possibility of accidental removal removal thereof.

Further, an object of the invention is to provide a container which is self standing and adapted for compact stacking and storing as needed.

Other objects and advantages of the instant invention, not specifically enumerated supra, will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the receptacle of the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of the receptacle;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the receptacle with the container and cover exploded apart;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged typical cross-section through the top edge of the covered container; and

3,355,d56 Patented Nov. 28, 1967 FIGURE 5 is an exploded view detailing the edge configuration of the cover and container.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 10 is used to generally designate the aquatic life receptacle which consists basically of a container or tank 12 and a cover 14 therefor. While not specifically limited thereto, both the container 12 and cover 14 are preferably made of shape sustaining transparent polystyrene.

The container 12 itself is rectangular in cross-section and includes, in addition to a fiat bottom wall 16, opposed side Walls 18 and opposed end Walls 20. Both the side and the end walls 18 and 20 gradually diverge upwardly away from the bottom wall 16 to an enlarged open upper end or top 22 so as to provide for a progressively increasing cross-sectional area within the container 12 from the bottom to the top 22 thereof. In addition, the upper portions of both the side and end walls 18 and 20 are offset outwardly so as to provide a continuous cover mounting strip 24 peripherally about the open top of the container 12. This strip 24 projects vertically rather than following the divergent direction of the Walls 18 and 20 so as to easily receive the cover 14 in a manner which shall be described presently.

The lateral offset of the mounting strip 24 provides in effect an outwardly projecting fiange portion 26 which tends to rigidify or strengthen the wide open top of the container 12. In addition to this, an integral reinforcing bead or projection 28 surrounds the strip 24 and projects outwardly thereof. This head 28 extends upwardly from the lower edge of the offset strip 24 to approximately midheight thereon with the bottom edge of the bead, in conjunction with the bottom edge of the strip, forming a finger gripping ledge or overhang 30.

The outer face 32 of the bead 28 projects vertically to the top edge 34 thereof, this top edge or shoulder 34 projecting horizontally inward from the outer face 32 of the bead 28 at right angles thereto, resulting in a sharp corner 36 therebetween as compared to the rounded corners normally provided at most of the other wall surface junctions for purposes of structural stability, as will be appreciated from the drawings.

The inner surface 38 of the strip 24, from the flange portion 26, and the outer surface 40, from the top edge 34 of the head 28, converge gradually upward and terminate in a convex top edge 42 so as to facilitate the mounting of the cover 14 and enable the provision of a tight frictional seal therewith.

The cover 14 itself is of course rectangular and conforms in size to the open top 22 of the container 12 over which it is to be placed.

A peripheral depending mounting flange 44 is formed integrally about the main flat or planar body 46 of the cover 14. This flange 44 is received about the container strip 24 and in frictional engagement with the outer surface 40 thereof. In order to facilitate the mounting of the cover 14- and provide for the desired frictional engagement, the flange 44 includes a lower edge 48 which, through a rounded inner corner 50, merges into an upwardly diverging surface 52 which complements the strip outer surface 40 as will be best appreciated from FIG- URE 4. The rounded corner 50 cooperates with the convex upper edge 42 of the strip 24 to guide the cover 14 as it is initially being placed.

A further sealing is effected by the provision of an integral depending rib 54 completely about the cover 14 parallel to and spaced laterally inward of the flange 44. The rib 54 projects downwardly from the cover body 46 to approximately mid-height of the flange 44 and has parallel inner and outer vertical surfaces 56 and 58 terminating in a convex lower edge 60. The outer rib surface 58 also merges into the inner flange surface 52 through a 3 concave recess 62 which conforms to the convex upper strip edge 42.

In mounting the cover 14, the rounded corner 50 and edge 42 act so as to guide the flange 44 into position. As the cover 14 is pushed downwardly, the complementary surfaces 40 and 52 engage each other and result in a sealed wedging of the upper portion of the strip 24 between the flange 44 and the rib 54, If so desired, a sealing gasket can also be provided within the concave recess 62.

The outer surface 64 of the flange 44 is vertical with a sharp right-angular corner 66 being provided between this surface 64 and the lower edge 48. In this manner a substantially invisible smooth joint is provided between the coplanar surfaces 64 of the flange 44 and 32 of the container bead 28 through the adjacent sharp corners 36 and 66. This smooth joint is significant in that it eliminates any projections which might result in accidental release or loosening of the cover 14. Further, if desired, a sealing band can be easily applied over this joint completely about the receptacle 10.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that a highly novel receptacle has been defined, this receptacle being particularly adapted for use in containing aquatic life within a life preserving liquid solution. Among the significant advantages of this receptacle is the provision of a container having an enlarged unrestricted open top allowing easy access to the interior thereof, and an integral reinforcement rigidifying and stabilizing this open top and providing a mounting structure for sealingly receiving a removable cover. In addition, the receptacle provides for a pcripheral ledge or overhang adjacent the top thereof immediately below the cover, thereby providing a convenient means for grasping and holding the receptacle without danger of the receptacle slipping. Although not specifically limited thereto, it is contemplated that the receptacle be approximately 2.56 inches by 4 inches at the top thereof and approximately 4 inches high, the generally rectangular shape facilitating the stacking and storing of the receptacles.

While the present invention has been deescribed in detail supra, it is understood that variations and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the following claim.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A container adapted to contain live fish or the like in a life preserving fluid, said container comprising:

a tubular body fabricated of transparent plastic and having a bottom wall and a continuous upstanding side wall means terminating at an upper edge which circurnscribes an open mouth permitting access to the interior of said body;

said side wall means including a thickened reinforcing bead portion formed by outwardly extending spaced apart upper and lower shoulders and an exterior side surface extending between said shoulders;

said side wall means including an opposed pair of end walls and opposed front and rear walls, said end, front and rear walls all tapering and converging downwardly and inwardly from said head portion to said bottom wall to provide said tubular body with a frusto-pyramidal shape which will not distort the appearance of a fish placed in the fluid therein;

said side wall means including an upper margin portion extending between said upper shoulder and said upper edge;

a cover including a top panel and a depending peripheral skirt having a lower edge engageable against said upper shoulder when said cover is applied to said body to close said open mouth;

said cover further including a continuous rib depending from said top panel in parallel juxtaposition to and inwardly of said peripheral skirt;

said rib and said skirt defining therebetween, a continuous annular channel adapted to sealingly receive said upper margin portion;

said annular channel and said upper margin portion and said upper edge being configured whereupon when said upper margin portion is disposed therein, the outer surface of said margin portion will sealingly engage against the inner surface of said peripheral skirt, the inner surface of said margin portion will sealingly engage against said rib and said upper edge will sealingly engage against that portion of the underside of said top panel which forms the bottom of said annular channel;

said cover and said body thus cooperating to effect a continuous sealing engagement along said upper margin portion from substantially the lower end of said rib to substantially the lower end of said peripheral skirt;

said peripheral skirt having a thickness such that the outer surface thereof is coextensive with said exterior side surface portion of said reinforcing bead;

said container thus having said cover and said body tightly sealed together to hermetically seal the contents therewithin and further having a reinforced and strengthened upper portion which enables said container to be manually gripped and carried by said lower shoulder without causing any container deformation.

Rcferences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,133,662 5/1964 Seidler 22042 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

THERON E. CONDON, Examiner.

G. T. HALL, Assistant Examiner, 

